Sea-anchor.



lNo. 727,175. PATENTED MAY 5, 1903.

T. S. MILLER. SEA NGHOR. APPLIoATon rILn'n s311129, 189s.

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No. 727,175.V

'UNITED STATE-s Patented May 5, 1903.

THOMAS SPENCER MILLER, OF SOUTH ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

SEA-ANCHOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.172'7,175, datedlVIay 5, 1903.

-Application ledSeptember 29, 1898. Serial No. 692,171. (No model.) 4

To @ZZ whom it' may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS SPENCER MIL- LER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of South Orange, inA the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sea- Anchors, of which the following is a specification.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures l and 2 show a sea-anchor embodying my invention in two positions. l

My sea-anchor, as shown, consists of two principal parts, each of which may be used independently of the other. One part consists of a cone 20, to which ropes 27 are connected and lead forward rto a draft connection with the cable l. This part corresponds in its function and method of operation with the ordinary sea-anchor in that it is a drag of constant area. 4 The other or forward portion comprises the collapsible member as well as a spring 3l or'extensible member, by which the rear portion is connected with the cable. This spring'serves the double purpose of operating the collapsible member and of forming a yielding connection for the rear member with the vessel. Although I have shown a single spring performing these two functions, I do not wish to limit myself in that particular.

The collapsible part of the sea-anchor consists of bars 22 and 25, pivoted at their outer ends to each other.Y The bars 22 at their inner ends are pivoted to a central eye 23. The bars 25 at their inner ends are pivoted to the central plate 24. The bars 22 are covered with canvas or other flexible material 2l. The central eye 23 is secured to the cable 1, which cable extends through sa-id eye and at its rear end is secured to the plate 30. The plate 2J. slides upon. the rods 29, which connect the plate 30 with the plate 28, and has a draft-rod 26, to the rear end of which the ropes 27 are secured. Between the plate 28, which is secured to the rear ends of the rods 29, andthe plate 2t is placed the helicallycoiled spring 3l. The rod 2G slides freely through the plate 2S.

The operation of the sea-anchor is as follows: When the anchoris being towed through the water by the rope l at low speed, it will be in the position shown in Fig. l, so as to loder the maximum resistant area to the water. When its speed islincreased, the spring 31 will yield to the increased resistance of the water, causing the forward frame and its cove-r 2l to collapse to the position shown in Fig. 2, so as to offer a decreased resistant area to the water. The compression of the spring is brought about both by the pressure upon the collapsible portion-2l and by the resistance of the rear portion`20 of the anchor. As the speed again decreases'the spring 31 expands, bringing the additional area of the collapsing portion into use, and thus equalizing the strain and approximating to uniformity.

Having thus described l'ny invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A sea-anchor consisting of fixed and co1'- lapsible parts and mechanism whereby an increased resistance causesthe collapsible part to collapse.

2. A sea-anchor provided with means for varying the resisting-surfaces to approximate a constant resistance Vat variable speeds.

3. A sea-anchor provided with means for changing the angle of the resisting-surfaces controlled by the speed whereby the pull of the anchor is more nearly equal at different speeds.

4. A sea-anchor provided with meansA for varying the resisting-surfaces controlled by the pressure upon said surfaces.

5. A sea-anchor provided with means for decreasing the area of the resisting-surfaces by an increase of pressure thereon.

6. A sea-anchorprovidedwith an elastic member and connections from said elastic member to the resistant surfaces to hold them in place. -Y

7. A sea-anchor,havingimovable resistant surfaces adapted tobe acted upon by the water to change their position, and an elastic support for said surfaces acting in opposition to the pressure of the water. 5 f. 1 Y

8. A sea-anchor havingY collapsible members and means whereby the-pressureof-water acts upon said members to close them proportionately to the pressure. f

9. A sea-anchor consisting of a fixed and a collapsible part, and an elastic member connected with the collapsible part to hold it open.

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10. In a sea-anchor, in combination, a fixed part, a collapsible part, an elastic member and connections between said elastic member and both of said parts whereby saidcollapsible part closes as said elastic member yields to the combined pressure of both of said parts.

l1. A sea-anchor comprising a fixed and a collapsible part, and a draft-sprin g interposed between said parts.

l2. A. sea-anchor comprising a fixed and' collapsible parts, and a draft-spring interposed between said parts, and connections whereby said spring acts to hold the collapsible member open.

13. A sea-anchor comprising radial arms supported at theirinner ends from the anchorrope, a iexible covering for said arms, a spring supported from the same rope, and

THOMAS SPENCER MILLER. Witnesses:

FRED S. KEMPER, J. E. GREER. 

